Ashley Tisdale and Haylie Duff were photographed together in Malibu this week, showcasing a united front amid the ongoing “toxic mom group” drama that has entangled several celebrities. Their outing, which included a family dinner and a playdate for their children, comes as Tisdale has publicly addressed feeling excluded from a social circle involving Haylie’s sister, Hilary Duff, and others.
On January 29, 2026, TMZ published photos of Tisdale and Haylie Duff leaving an Italian restaurant in Malibu with their children in tow. The images captured a casual, friendly interaction, with sources noting “no toxicity here” in contrast to the recent controversies. This sighting followed a playdate earlier in the week where Haylie’s daughter, Lulu, and Tisdale’s daughter, Jupiter, were seen playing together, as shared on social media.
The backdrop to this meeting is Tisdale’s essay published earlier this month in The Cut, where she described leaving a “toxic” mom group that included Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor. In the piece, Tisdale expressed feelings of exclusion, citing group text chains that omitted her and social media posts of gatherings she wasn’t invited to. She wrote about realizing she “wasn’t really part of the group after all,” which sparked widespread speculation and reactions.
Haylie Duff’s involvement adds a layer of familial tension. Earlier in January, she “liked” an Instagram post promoting Tisdale’s essay, seen as taking a side against her sister, Hilary. The Duff sisters have been publicly estranged since at least 2019, with Hilary addressing their relationship in a new song titled “We Don’t Talk” during her recent tour. Hilary sang about wanting to “get back to how we were as kids,” hinting at unresolved issues.
Responses to Tisdale’s essay have been mixed. Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, made a sarcastic comment on social media, referring to Tisdale as “the most self-obsessed tone deaf person on earth.” Mandy Moore also responded cryptically, mentioning mourning changed friendships. Meghan Trainor’s husband stated there was “no drama over here,” attempting to downplay the situation.
The playdate and dinner between Tisdale and Haylie Duff suggest a forming alliance or at least a mutual distancing from the alleged toxic dynamics. Observers note that Haylie’s alignment with Tisdale could further strain her relationship with Hilary, though neither sister has publicly commented on their feud recently. Tisdale’s representative has previously dismissed fan theories as missing the mark, but the public sightings keep the narrative alive.
This episode highlights the complexities of celebrity friendships and family dynamics under public scrutiny. As the drama unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Tisdale and Haylie Duff’s bond will solidify or if reconciliations might occur within the wider group. For now, their Malibu outing serves as a visual counterpoint to the discord, emphasizing personal connections over group politics.
